Dear lovely human being,
If you are reading this, you are so beautiful. The title may have caught your attention because you personally struggle with an eating disorder and need that little extra push to make it through the day, or you know someone who you can pass this message on to.
To the reader who skipped lunch today or couldn’t keep their dinner down last night, you are not alone. Despite your struggle, despite the isolation your eating disorder makes you feel, you are not and will not ever be alone. There are so many others out there who know your struggle all too well and want so badly for you to get better.
To the reader who spent 20 minutes too long this morning, looking in the mirror, hating every inch of what you saw, you are beautiful. You are exactly who and where you are meant to be. You are worth so, so much love, both from yourself and those around you. You were created in God’s image and are so incredibly astonishing; He does not make mistakes. You are not a mistake, your body is not a mistake, you will get through this. Next time you find yourself standing in front of a mirror, tearing yourself apart, please look yourself in the eyes and say, “I am beautiful. I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” until you start to believe it.
“For you formed my inward parts, you knit me in my mother’s womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14
To the reader who dropped 15 pounds and still doesn’t feel good enough, you are enough. You are so enough. You are beautiful, you are loved. Please be gentle with yourself, you are doing the best that you can. You only have one body in this life, please be kind to it. Before you lost the weight, you were beautiful. Now that you have lost weight, you are still so very beautiful. Your worth does not stem from a number on a scale, it takes root in God, who has placed so much worth and life in you. Step off of the scale, that number means absolutely nothing. Trash the goal weight. No matter what you see what you look down at the scale, you deserve to love yourself unconditionally.
To the reader who tries so hard to take that first bite but feels like they can’t, you can. I believe in you. The thing that has stuck with me in my own personal battle above all else is one simple statement. Three words. Food is food. Food is the energy that your body needs to survive. Without it, you are weak. You are tired. You are empty, physically and mentally. I know it’s hard, I know what it’s like to take a bite and mentally feel like you’ve gained 15 pounds. That is not you talking, that is your ED talking. When you choose to ignore it and eat that meal, your ED loses all power.
To the reader who has lost all hope, you will get through this. I know you will. Recovery will be one of the hardest, yet most rewarding things you will ever go through. You’ve got this. There is an army of people standing right by your side, cheering you on. Giving up seems like the only option now, but it’s not. Do not think, even for a second, that this world would be a better place without you. As someone who made it out of this hell alive, let me say this. You will look back on this someday and be so thankful that you never gave up.
“I promise you, things will be okay. Take down the mirrors, throw away the scales, delete the calorie counting apps. Get help for yourself. Because that voice, it’s in your head, and it’s not your friend. Do not let it defeat you, do not let it tell you that you are not beautiful, because you are. I know things are hard, I know every single day is so hard to get through. But each day towards recovery is worth it, I promise. One day, you will love yourself. One day, food won’t be your enemy anymore. One day, you’ll be okay, I promise. Fight back. You’re so worth it.” - Olive, age 18
“You have to start throwing punches, and most of the time, you can’t throw those punches by yourself. You need people. People who will fight for you and with you. People who will cheer you on when it’s good and when it’s bad. Because people want to know you. They want to meet the real you, not your ED or the person it tells you to be. Call it out. Call out the lies and wrap yourself in truth. Truth that you are called higher, you are made for more, made for freedom.” - Anonymous, age 19
“Don’t ever let anyone make you think this disease isn’t serious, because it is. It’s not something you can beat on your own. It’s not something that will just go away. It’s not just psychological, it’s physical as well and needs to be fixed from both angles. With that being said, I want you to know that there IS a way out, and you CAN be cured of it. It’s not easy and it can take some time, but the view from the other side is indescribable. Everyone deserves freedom from it.” - Tanner, age 22
“Our society teaches us what makes us beautiful, but our creator says no. Jesus is what makes you beautiful When God sees us, he sees what Jesus did for us, which is exemplified beauty. So when society tells you it’s your body size that makes you beautiful, stop and realize that the only opinion of you that matters already calls you beautiful through Jesus. Nothing can change that.” - Anonymous, age 20
I know you’ve heard this a thousand times, so we might as well make it a thousand and one. It gets better, it really does. You will get through this, I know you will. You are strong, you are beautiful, you are courageous. I believe in you, as do so many others. You’ve got this.
With love,
Ashlee.
